The Packers have a game Sunday against the 4-4 Arizona Cardinals at Lambeau Field and he can't afford to limp into the team's midseason break with a loss.

But every player in the locker room knows they'll be getting more days off next week if they win and there's no way McCarthy or the team's medical staff can avoid taking the bye into consideration when it comes to the legal document-sized list of injured players they have.

He and the medical staff are forced to consider holding out injured players this week because of the proximity of the bye. The chance to give a player an extra week to heal an injury is rarely given in the National Football League and you can bet discussions of doing just that are going on behind the scenes all through the league.

On Wednesday, receiver Jordy Nelson (hamstring), fullback John Kuhn (hamstring), cornerback Sam Shields (knee/shin), linebacker Nick Perry (knee), end Mike Neal (ankle) and end Jerel Worthy (concussion) did not take part in practice.

They joined safety Charles Woodson (shoulder) and receiver Greg Jennings (groin), both of whom are dealing with long-term injuries and have already been declared out of the Cardinals game.

All told, that's six starters and two key backups.

McCarthy said Nelson, the team's leader in receiving yards, won't practice Thursday and will be re-evaluated Friday. He was close to being ready last week, so it's possible he's being rested so he can play Sunday without fear of his leg fatiguing quickly.

It's also likely they're just not going to risk playing him this week.

"We'll see if he could potentially do something Friday," McCarthy said.

The offense was definitely affected by Nelson's absence against the Jaguars, and the potential for another poor showing against a better Cardinals defense is incentive to get him back. But much of the talk this week has been about each player taking care of his business so the injuries aren't a factor.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made it clear that the backups have to come through this week with so many players down. He used rookie receiver Jarrett Boykin, who has played more because of Nelson's absence, as an example.

"There's an expectation around here that when a guy goes down, the next guy up has got to step in and play well," Rodgers said. "Jarrett's going to get some more opportunities and we feel confident. There's a reason we kept him on the team after training camp; it's because he's going to be a big-time player for us at some point."

Kuhn is in a situation similar to Nelson's. He might be able to work out Friday, but there is no definite plan for him to return.

Shields and Perry, both of whom were hurt against Houston Oct. 14, may be getting close, but it is not clear if they're going to practice this week. Neal, who was hurt Sunday, said he did some running Wednesday and was hopeful of returning to practice, but that's his assessment of things not the medical staff's.

Regardless of his decisions on who is active, McCarthy's public message is about being ready this week not next week.

"I'll tell you, the players have a clear understanding (about) the importance of this game," McCarthy said. "I think we've made the mistake of maybe looking forward to the bye week in the past.

"We're not going to make that mistake this week. Our focus is on the Arizona Cardinals. We made a big point as a staff and as a football team to make sure the urgency is heightened."

Secret weapon

Offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith has lived in anonymity all season, but after taking four snaps as a tight end against Jacksonville, his role has become a big topic of discussion this week.

Dietrich-Smith helped create some room on an otherwise dismal running day for the Packers and he's hoping that his presence is more of a trend than a fad.

"When I get in there I want to make sure they have confidence in me," Dietrich-Smith said. "So by me screwing up a play lowers their confidence, so I've got to do as well as I can.

"And I have a lot of fun doing it. It keeps you in the game. A lot of guys on offense get a kick out of doing it. I hope we keep doing it."

Delay of game

McCarthy said that Jennings was making arrangements to have the groin surgery he was scheduled for on Tuesday but that details were not yet nailed down.

Jennings was to fly to Philadelphia so surgeon William Meyers could repair a tear in a lower abdominal muscle, but the storms out East made it impossible for him to get there. Jennings is trying to get the surgery done this week.

My bad

There stands a pretty good chance that McCarthy will lean on his no-huddle offense more Sunday.

McCarthy said he has been a little too quick to get out of the no-huddle based on circumstances and wants to stick with it longer. Against Jacksonville, in particular, he thought he should have used more no-huddle.

"If there's anything that has held the no-huddle back, I would say it's been me," McCarthy said. "There are certain things that go on during the course of the game, if I don't like it, I probably pull the chain too many times. If I want to be critical of myself after the season, it would be that.

"We have a lot of time, we have a lot of reps committed to the no-huddle."

McCarthy said he still had a lot of confidence in the no-huddle and thinks it is effective.

Getting involved

Tight end Andrew Quarless and linebacker Frank Zombo, both of whom are on the physically unable to perform list, are starting to get practice reps with their regular units after doing scout-team work the last two weeks.

Next Wednesday, the Packers have to decide whether to activate them, put them on injured reserve or release them. They are in the process of proving they're healthy enough to be activated.

"We're working them both," McCarthy said. "That's what we'll be talking about Friday."